Concurrent validity and cross-validation of the Brunel Lifestyle Physical Activity Questionnaire

Abstract

Objectives: Owing to the profoundly negative impact of inactivity on public health, it is important to have valid and reliable measures of lifestyle physical activity (LPA). The Brunel Lifestyle Physical Activity Questionnaire (BLPAQ) was designed as a measure of planned physical activity (PPA) and unplanned physical activity (UPA). The objective of the present study was to assess the criterion-related validity of the BLPAQ. Design: A correlational design was employed. Methods: A sample of British leisure centre users (N = 356; age range 18  69 y: mean age 26.5 ± 10.4 y) completed the BLPAQ and two reference measures: the Baecke Questionnaire of Habitual Physical Activity (BQHPA) and the Godin’s Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ). MANOVA was used to test for potential gender differences in LPA patterns. Each measure was also cross-validated using a split-sample approach and the limits of agreement (LoA) method. Results: With the exception of the Moderate and Vigorous dimensions of the GLTEQ, the remaining scores of the reference instruments were correlated with both PPA and UPA factors (p < 0.05). A significant difference in levels of UPA was found between women and men (p = 0.039). Furthermore, multiple linear regression analyses demonstrated that the BLPAQ subscales could be predicted by the criterion measures. The LoA analyses demonstrated satisfactory agreement between BLPAQ subscales and those of the BQHPA and GLTEQ. Conclusions: The BLPAQ is a criterion- and cross-validated measure of PPA and UPA that can be used to assess the efficacy of LPA interventions by researchers and practitioners. Further research should address the predictive validity of the BLPAQ – another facet of criterion validity.